A major cheese manufacturing facility in Lemoore, California is set to permanently close early next year, cutting hundreds of jobs and dealing a blow to the local community. The Leprino Foods ‘Lemoore East’ plant — part of one of the world’s largest mozzarella producers — will cease operations in early 2026.
History
Leprino’s Lemoore East facility has been open for more than a century. Company officials cite the facility’s age as one of the reasons for its closure, as well as “high operating costs in California.”
Leprino Foods supplies mozzarella and other cheese products to major national chains, including pizza and foodservice brands, and has described the closure as a “difficult decision” made after a comprehensive review of its manufacturing network.
“This change will not affect the quality, service, or reliability our customers expect of us and our products,” says a company spokesperson.
Timeline and impact
According to records on file with the California Employment Development Department, 268 people will be laid off at the Leprino Foods Lemoore East plant next week on January 9th, while another 100 employees are predicted to lose their jobs by December 30, 2026.
Leprino’s spokesperson says the company is dedicated to supporting impacted employees, saying, “Over the coming months, we will work closely with our Lemoore East employees, union representatives, and community leaders to provide transition support and resources for affected team members. Our dedication to serving customers and honoring our commitments remains unwavering.”
Shifting operation to Texas
Part of the reason for the closure of the Lemoore East facility is an increased capacity resulting from the opening of its new Lubbock, Texas, facility. The new 850,000 square-foot facility in Texas is set to be fully operational early this year after construction broke ground in 2022.
Local leaders and residents expressed concern over the economic impact of the Lemoore East closure, noting that Lemoore has already faced multiple industrial job losses in recent years. Kings County officials stressed that the dairy and agricultural sector remains vital to the area’s identity and economic future, even as operations shift.
Luprino’s larger West Plant in Lemoore — one of the biggest cheese-producing facilities in the world — is not expected to be affected by the layoffs and will continue operations.
Is California driving businesses away?
Compared to other states, California is known to be more expensive and challenging for businesses to survive. Higher operating costs, high rent, high utilities, and a higher minimum wage are all factors driving businesses out of California lately.
Despite these challenges, California is still considered a major player in the US and global economy. Time will tell how things continue to unfold, given the economic ups and downs we’ve been seeing nationwide.
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